Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-02-12
nlv E1rrlErH RIETHDAT.
FRAsas GAGE

used to think when /. a child.
Played with the pebbles on the shore
That rolled before my fiiher's door,
How long. how very long 'twould Be
Ere I could live out nIrY years
To think Of il oft checked my giee
And hlisd my childish heart with fears.
looked at grandma as she sat,
Her forehead declced with silvery rhine,
And thought. when I'm az old as that
Must darn stockings all the timer
Must j sit In an arm chair 80,
A white failed cap around my face
VITA dull drao strings and ne er a bow,
And keep things always in their placer
The lines Of care. the sighs Of pain,
The Hush" her Lpa 80 oft Let ralls
Made me wish Ger and Ger again
IneVer might grow old al all
Yet she was ever cheerful. and
Would oft times Join our sports aud mirth,
And many play By her was planned
Around the winter evening hearth
But then she played not BY the brook,
She did not gather pretty noWsrzs
She did not sing with merry look
And make a spring time Of the hours.
So, when she said one sumner morn,
"You viii be old ike me some day"
J Wept like one OF hope torlOrn.
And threw my playthings all away.
Be old like grandma and not roam
The glen IN spring for Violets blue,
Nor bring the bright May blossoms home,
Nor pick the strawberries midst the dew !
BE old and in the summer time
Take many maps in md day hours,
And fail the apple trees 70 climb
And shake the ripeAing trait In showers
Be old and have no nuttng bees
Upon the hillside rustling brown,
Nor hang upon the vine clad trees
And shout the rich, ripe clusters down
Be old and sit round Wlntry hres
BE fifty fave no sliding spree
And hush away all Wild desires
aanHrH HsaHH aaH Hl1H IN
But two score years have glided by
With summers heat and winters cold,
With sunny hours and cloudy sky
Till now Pm atty, now I'm old
The sunburnt locks are silVery now
That used 20 bangle IL she wind,
And eyes seem dim ard telt more slow
That left their playnates all behind.
speotaolas lie upon my nose,
But no white friil looks prLm and cold.
Ny gray hair gurls, i wear pink bows
DO n0treel 3D. very old
To play among the peDble1,
Would love, on that familiar shore
Where once j watched the swallows ny
The dancing ripping waters Ger
I'd like TO climb the apple tree
Where once the spicy sWeeting grew
Rake grape vine swings and have glees
But i am fifty u wouldn't do
I'D ike 70 go a uniting noWs
And gather violets j. the glen
And wreath the wild flowers round my brow.
AS vel as Ger did a. ten.
pdliks 10 slide upOn the pond,
70 watch the old mill struggling there
In icy chains. while all beyond
Maz one broad mirror, cold and glare.
I'd like 70 see the noisy school
Let out incoming as OF Of old
Play Lost my Glove, and Mind the hule,
Ny heart beats quick; il is not cold.
i hear the cry of Kate and Jane,
OF Lottie, Lima, Helen, Sue;
All, yes IN own lt, IN between
Coma GEORGE and Dan and NALLIALu. TOO
My childish sports, 1 loved them thea;
/ love to think them over still;
To shut my eyes and dream again
OF silyery stream and upland riil
But life has pleasures holler far
Than childhood's joys with a ] their Zest
That, as we journey down the hill.
Make each succeeding year the best.
There are stalwart men beside my hearth
and bonny lazses laughing free
Who had not lived in this good earth
To love and labor but for me-
And shall pine for childhOOd's joys
For woodland walks and violels blue,
While round me merry girls and boys
Are doing what / used 20 dog
The paths I've trod were somet mes rough
And sharp and piercing TO my feet
Bot there were daisied walks enough
Friends whom Il0Ved, have passed from sight
Before me TO the spirit home.
But in the day that knows no night
Hopes that I've cherished too were vain,
But have lived 10 feel and know,
We're life 10 live O'er again
'TYEere better that il should be so.
At every winding of the way
I've sought for love, aud love have given,
For love can cheer the darkest day
And make the poorest home heaven
As violns IN foreign lands.
Broken and shattered DER and DER
When mended and in skilful hands
Give sWeeter music than before;
So oft the heart with sOrrOW t0rn
Gives forth a lOftier, clearer song
Than that which greeted Us at morn
When it was new and brave and strong.
Father, i thank Thee for them all,
These fifty years which now are past,
Oh, guard me, guide me- till the fall
OF death shall hide this form at last.
Let me in love and kindness still live on
And ns'er grow hard and cold,
Bend me aud break me 70 Thy viii
But may my spirit ne'er grow old.